The focus of this discussion paper is on understanding and responding to unsettled behaviour in infants.

The most common illicit drug used by women of reproductive age and by pregnant women is cannabis (DrugInfo, 2005). Although there are limited national data available on illicit substance use among parents in Australia, the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey estimated that 12% of parents with children aged 0–14 years used either an illicit...

The relationship an infant has with their primary caregiver (in our society, this is usually the mother) has a profound impact on the infant’s future development. It is now well recognised that experiences in the first weeks and months of life help shape the developing brain; the most important of these experiences is the relationship...

Many mothers do not continue to provide breast milk for their babies when they return to work as this does not occur to them as a viable option. However, by expressing and storing milk at work, continuing to provide breast milk for their infants is a very viable option for mothers returning to work.

It is widely known that an unsettled infant can be a major cause of stress for some parents. Not surprisingly infant sleep and settling is a major component for health professionals working with families. Of interest is the debate about what techniques are appropriate for parents and children. Some organisations have questioned some settling techniques...